This year, be a part of the inclusive Sindoor Khela, because #NoConditionsApply

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This year, be a part of the inclusive Sindoor Khela, because #NoConditionsApply

The #NoConditionsApply campaign by The Times of India took the country by storm last Durga Puja when it challenged a 400-year-old tradition of Sindoor Khela. The movement began in Kolkata where women from across the socio-economic background, irrespective of their gender, marital status, smeared each other with vermilion (sindoor), and broke the patriarchal symbol of marriage. The powerful dots became the symbol of sisterhood, and this is what Chennai is going to witness this year.
The Bengali community living in the city has been organising Durga Puja every year. But what’s new this time is the idea of ‘inclusiveness’. Well, it wasn’t easy for some to accept the change as they do not want to challenge the traditional old custom of Sindoor Khela that is believed to be only played by the married women. And there are some with revolutionary thoughts who think a little unconventional; those who believe that a celebration can never divide the human race.

Banadeb Bhattacharya, the 63-year-old purohit (priest in Bengali) for the past 36 years at South Madras Cultural Association (SMCA), believes that Sindoor Khela is not an event or a festival, it’s an ‘utsav’ (celebration) and it’s a great initiative to bring women from across the spectrum together. “This is really a great initiative and we wholeheartedly welcome all the women, irrespective of their caste, community, social background, marital status and sexual orientation, to come together as one gender, as one individual, to celebrate Sindoor Khela at our puja pandal this year.” He adds that Durga Puja is not just like any other festival, “We don’t believe that one needs to be a Hindu to be a part of it, it is an utsav and it is for the entire mankind; it only aims to unite human race and add joy to our lives.”

Members of SMCA have been conducting Durga Puja since 1979 and Banadeb’s father was the first to start the puja. Interestingly, the cultural association does not believe in casteism and religion as many of their members are from various religious faiths.

And then, there are the members of The Bengal Association (estd 1929), Chennai, one of the oldest puja associations in the city, who call this initiative revolutionary in the society. Executive committee member of the association, that has been putting up a pandal for over 80 years in the heart of the city, T Nagar, Suramya Dasgupta, says, “The last revolution in society was when Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar brought widow remarriage and after that #NoConditionsApply is the second revolution in the lives of widows. We hope to continue this tradition from now.”

President Amit Biswas from the Association asks, “How can we ignore the fact that to sculpt Ma Durga, we need clay from the courtyard of a sex worker. How, then, can we not permit them to be a part of the celebration when they play such a crucial role in our traditions?” Suramya adds, “Earlier, every individual used to be part of the celebration, but over time, discrimination started creeping in.”

Secretary Soumya Guha Thakurata welcomes women from all sections and says, “We believe every individual in society must have equal rights. There is no harm if a transwoman enters the pandal and becomes part of the celebration.”

So, this Durga Puja, no matter which part of the city you are in, do visit and bring a sister along for Sindoor Khela with Chennai Times at...

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